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Husband’s Surprise Valentine’s Trips Put Everyone Else to Shame

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Elaine Houghton doesn’t know where her husband Ron is taking her for Valentine’s Day until they get on the plane. (Photo: Channel5)

So you think you have a romantic plan for Valentine’s Day this year? This guy has been killing it for the last 12 years with the gift of travel.

Ron Houghton of Liverpool, England, surprises his wife, Elaine, with a Valentine’s Day jaunt every year – and she doesn’t know where they’re going until they sit on the plane. Their destinations have included France, Latvia, Belgium, Venice, Germany, and Egypt.

Ron and Elaine, aged 73 and 56, have been doing this for the 12 years since they met. Ron’s trick is having the Liverpool airport staff black out the destination on their boarding passes, so Elaine has no idea where they’re going until the flight attendant onboard announces it.

Related: 13 Romantic Valentine’s Day Trips to Book Right Now

Ron, a retired prison officer, does give Elaine some packing advice based on the weather, but as Elaine told The Daily Mail, “Even if he says it’s warm I still pack a few jumpers, because I don’t trust him at all.”

The couple are being featured on a local reality show. Ron says the first time he tried surprising Elaine with a trip to Dublin, it almost backfired at the airport because Elaine is afraid of flying. But once he persuaded her, she loved the idea as much as she loves him.

“Ron is a real romantic,” she told The Daily Mail of when they first met. “He took me for my favorite chip-shop tea and ice-cream parlor once a week. He was so thoughtful. “Even now, he makes sure I always have fresh flowers. He opens doors and treats me like a real lady.”

Related: The Most Romantic Weekend Getaway in Every State

Of all the places they’ve gone, Elaine says her favorite has been Latvia, even though it was freezing and snowy.

WATCH: Best Beaches in the Caribbean

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Airbnbs Still Available for Super Bowl 50 Weekend

If you’re a die-hard Panthers or Broncos fan and want to be in the Bay Area for Super Bowl 50, you might have noticed that it won’t be cheap. Aside from the $5,000 tickets, hotels are selling out at inflated rates, leaving rental sites such as Airbnb as a next resort.

Knowing the demand, Bay Area homeowners and renters are looking for a gold rush of income – by one count, local Airbnbs were going for an average of $363 per night – a 76.2 percent spike from the following weekend’s rates.

If you’re hell-bent on being in town, you’ll want to choose your rental wisely depending on your plans — Oakland and the rest of the East Bay will be cheaper on average, but they’re also farther away from the game, which takes place in Santa Clara.

If you’re still on the hunt for a good bed to temporarily call home, we’ve rounded up some available Airbnb rentals across the Bay Area, private and shared, in some different price ranges (prices don’t include fees and taxes, so beware). Note: Some of these may have been snapped up since presstime:

San Francisco

“Cozy & Comfy Place w/ Private Entry”

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Photo: courtesy of Airbnb

Cost: $369 per night (three-night minimum)

This private guest space inside the host’s home is in the Inner Sunset, one of the quieter parts of the city, in case you want to chill out from Super Bowl madness. There’s also a private deck and garden.

Related: San Francisco for the Super Bowl: Your Guide to Everything

Cozy Bed/Bath Suite in Elegant Flat

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Photo: courtesy of Airbnb

Cost: $188 per night

This condo is in the Outer Richmond neighborhood, which is even farther away from downtown than the previous rental, but what you’re getting for the price is a solid value. And it’s very accessible to Golden Gate Park and Lands End.

“Location! Location! Hidden Gem”

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Photo: courtesy of Airbnb

Cost: $300 per night

“We are no Ritz-Carlton or Four Seasons,” the ad says, though the price sure applies for this weekend. Nevertheless, if you’re planning to take Caltrain to Santa Clara for the game, this one-bedroom rental is an ideal spot just walking distance away. The room itself is hardly fancy, though it does have a cute entryway.

Related: San Francisco Mocks Super Bowl in a Hilarious Way

Santa Clara

“2 Story Apt Close to Levi’s Stadium”

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Photo: courtesy of Airbnb

Cost: $600 per night

If proximity to the game is your top priority, this pricey one-bedroom apartment will be your kind of place — it’s about a 15-minute walk away. Rowdy fans be warned: No Super Bowl parties are allowed here.

San Jose

Modern home - 2 mi from Super Bowl

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Photo: courtesy of Airbnb

Cost: $300 per night

Another good listing for those who want to be close to the stadium, although you’ll be sharing this two-bedroom apartment. It includes a bedroom and bathroom to yourself, plus kitchen, gym, and a 50-inch TV with Netflix.

“Small town charm in Silicon Valley”

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Photo: courtesy of Airbnb

Cost: $434 per night

This “cottage” is in a cute San Jose neighborhood called Willow Glen, and you’ll be walking distance from some appealing dining options. Which is a good thing, because there’s no stove here. It’s 10 miles from Levi’s Stadium, so you won’t face too much traffic hassle.

Palo Alto

Dynamite Downtown Studio!

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Photo: courtesy Airbnb

Cost: $550 per night

This is just steps away from Stanford Stadium — which, for you trivia buffs, hosted Super Bowl XIX in 1985. You’ll be in the heart of Palo Alto’s downtown nightlife, and about 14 miles from Levi’s Stadium. This might be the highest price you ever pay for a studio, but at least we like the look of it.

“Quiet, new studio in Palo Alto”

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Photo: courtesy of Airbnb

Cost: $500 per night

This is in a cul-de-sac in a quieter part of Palo Alto than the first listing. The space and amenities are all modern, with a king-size bed, stainless-steel appliances, and hardwood floors.

Oakland

“Unique retreat with huge backyard”

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Photo: courtesy of Airbnb

Cost: $307 per night

What you’ll lack in proximity to the game (Levi’s is about 46 miles away), you’ll gain in living space: two bedrooms, a large patio, and barbecue grill, plus proximity to San Francisco a short BART ride away. There’s even a wood-fired pizza oven if you want to make your own pie.

“Large Craftsman Flat in Rockridge”

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Photo: courtesy of Airbnb

Cost: $138

This Rockridge listing is one of the better-looking basements we’ve seen, and boasting 1,000 square feet and a new interior, the price is right. Dining and nightlife are close by, as is BART. There’s even a Ping-Pong table, should football bore you.

“Berkeley Hills Maybeck Home”

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Photo: courtesy of Airbnb

Cost: $525

You definitely don’t want to stay here if you plan on being near the game, but this is one sweet-looking rustic rental in a secluded neighborhood near the UC-Berkeley campus. It has some history too: it belonged to the late Bernard Maybeck, who designed the famous Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco.

WATCH: Drinking with the Giants’ World Series Trophy on a Plane Was My Dream Trip

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Alaska Airlines Ad Fail – ‘Meet Our Eskimo’

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The updated livery and logo on Alaska Airlines, including the Eskimo logo that has been there since 1972. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

A company rebranding campaign turned into a P.R. mess for Alaska Airlines this week, leading its CEO to apologize for a website reference to the Alaska Native face on its planes’ tail as “our Eskimo,” while other Alaska Natives complained about the use of the image entirely.

The airline has long referred to the face, which debuted on its planes in 1972, as “the Eskimo,” and there’s a video on Alaska Airlines’ website about it and how it’s inspired by the state’s Native heritage. But the most recent brand refresh, including a slight redesign to the plane, included the phrase “meet our Eskimo” on the company website.

The implication of possession upset Alaska Natives, who voiced their displeasure on Facebook and Twitter, including a #NotYourEskimo hashtag, as well as an online petition. The phrasing was later removed.

“When Alaska Airlines unveiled our refreshed brand earlier this week, a reference we used, ‘Meet our Eskimo,’ offended many in the Alaska Native community, and likely others,” Alaska Air Group CEO Brad Tilden said in a statement. “We apologize and take full responsibility for this insensitive reference.”

Related: Spirit Airlines Makes Tasteless Miss Universe Joke (Naturally)

Annie Wilcoxson Wenstrup, an Alaska Native, voiced her displeasure on Facebook, posting, “I want to like your new rebranding campaign… Claiming the image of an indigenous person is troubling enough. The possessiveness of your ‘Meet Our Eskimo’ is dehumanizing.”

In an interview with the Alaska Dispatch News, Wenstrup added, “I think it’s time to start phasing (the Eskimo logo) out,” she said. “I think it has a lot of warm and fuzzy feelings because we’re used to it, but you’re using a minority’s image to support a corporate brand, and they’re profiting off that.”

Other Alaska Natives on social media have supported the use of the term “Eskimo,” and Alaska Airlines says they decided to keep using the term after conducting focus groups with Native leaders in the state.

WATCH: 4 Hacks to Help you Breeze Through Airport Security

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San Francisco Mocks Super Bowl in a Hilarious Way

Super Bowl 50 in San Francisco is a touchy subject among the locals. For one thing, it’s not in San Francisco (the game is in Santa Clara), yet it’s costing the city almost $5 million for all the pregame hoopla there.

That hoopla includes some gaudy gold Super Bowl statues, including one in heavily touristed Alamo Square Park. We don’t know if this was a case of angry civic-minded citizens or some thrill-seeking vandals, but that statue was defaced in a snarky, San Francisco way.

The lettering in “Super Bowl” was switched to read, “Superb Owl,” and there’s more: the gold aluminum paneling was ripped out from one of the numbers, the solar panels near the bottom were stolen, and the Super Bowl crest on the side was scratched through, as were the gold coins within the numbers.

The signs were reportedly covered with some graffiti as well, but they’re designed to be graffiti-resistant, so those marks were easily removed.

Related: San Francisco for the Super Bowl: Your Guide to Everything

Alamo Square Park faces the famous “Painted Ladies” houses featured in the show Full House and is very popular with tourists.

Update: The Super Bowl statue at City Hall was also vandalized. The Scrabble play this time? From “Super Bowl” to “Sup Bro.” We’ll give them a triple-word score on that one.

Related: 10 Foods You Must Have in San Francisco for the Super Bowl

WATCH: Confessions of Alcatraz: Former Inmates and Jailers Speak Out

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Best Way to Search a Hotel Room for Bedbugs

Bedbugs aren’t a big concern when you travel … unless you get them. Then they’re a blood-sucking nightmare, and they won’t just ruin your trip — they can ruin your life for months afterward if they hitch a ride home with you.

Don’t think you’ll find them only in a two-bit motel — there are well-documented cases of tourists having their upscale hotel getaways ruined by massive bedbug bites. And it’s no use traveling to a region that’s bedbug-free: The data says they can be found all over the U.S.

What’s the best way to weed out these tiny critters? We love this video demonstration from the University of Maine, in which Jim Dill, an expert with a sweet New England accent, shows us how to look for bedbugs upon first checking into a hotel.

We combine his tips along with some other expert advice into a step-by-step guide for avoiding a bedbug-infested holiday:

Put your bags in the tub, away from the luggage rack

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Bedbugs can hide in luggage racks too. (Photo: Getty Images)

This should be the first thing you do after checking in, and it’s often not mentioned. While a luggage rack may be away from the bed and elevated, bedbugs could easily be hiding out within the fabric of the straps. To be extra safe, put your bags in the bathroom tub, which bedbugs are unlikely to climb into.

Related: What Happens When You Get Bedbugs From an Airbnb Rental? It Isn’t Pretty.

Cindy Mannes, vice president of public affairs for the National Pest Management Association, also says you could leave your bags at the door when you first check in: “Just don’t unpack anything until you’ve checked for bedbugs,” she told Yahoo Travel.

Start your inspection by checking the headboard

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(Photo: Scott Higdon/LuckyPix/Corbis)

Bedbugs don’t stray far from the bed — as Dill says, their range is about 20 feet away from their host — but they’re sneaky and can play hide-and-seek better than any 5-year-old.

Take a flashlight (if you have a smartphone, it probably has one) and get a good look at the headboard, which is a common hiding spot, and don’t forget to look in the creases.

“Many people overlook the headboard because it can be difficult to remove from the wall to examine it,” Louis N. Sorkin, BCE, a consulting entomologist with Entsult Associates, told Yahoo Travel.

Related: Hotel Claims Dogs Are Better Guests Than Gross Humans

And just to digress for a minute, Sorkin should know bedbugs well — he stores thousands of them at home for study and keeps them alive by letting them feed on him, since he doesn’t react adversely to bites. Chuck Norris has nothing on Louis N. Sorkin.

As for what bed bugs can look like, their size and color can depend on whether they’re an adult or immature, or whether they’ve recently fed. The common rule of thumb is that they’re the size and shape of an appleseed, but Sorkin has posted examples of how that’s not necessarily so. They can be flat or plump in shape, and pale or reddish-brown in color.

Check the piping of the mattress

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(Photo: iStock)

The crevices of a mattress’s piping make for a great bedbug hideout, so take off the sheets and look closely at the top and bottom parts.

Check the mattress or mattress pad for blood spots or poop

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(Photo: iStock)

We know, this isn’t the most romantic way to begin a hotel stay, but other than seeing the bugs themselves, this is the best giveaway of whether any bedbugs have been feeding recently. The bloodstains can be red or brown, and the bedbugs’ poop can look like magic marker dots or marks, or raised mounds, Sorkin said. The poop residue will be light-to-dark brown or black.

Check the nearby drawers and nightstand

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(Photo: Getty Images)

These make for another nice, dark hiding spot for bedbugs. Don’t just look on the corners of the inside — to be really thorough, take the drawers out from the nightstand and look under them too.

Check all other prime hiding spots

This could include the aforementioned luggage rack, bed frame, picture frames, and anything else within a few feet of the bed.

What if, gasp, you find bedbugs when you check in?

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What a typical adult bedbug looks like. (Photo: adrian davies/Alamy Stock Photo)

I’ll share a semi-embarrassing story: Last year I stayed at a boutique hotel in British Columbia, and minutes after checking in I saw some apple-seed-size, orange-brown bugs on the window and the windowsill.

So I did what any sane person would do: I freaked out, zipped up the bags I had placed on the floor, and ran down to the front desk. To the hotel’s credit, the guy working there immediately came up to my room to check on the problem. Which, it turns out, was no problem — they were just a species of ladybug I’d never seen (Canadians!). But he examined the mattress and the room just to be sure.

Related: 8 Important Questions You Need to Ask Your Hotel Concierge

Provided what you found are in fact bedbugs, notify the front desk immediately. It’s probably OK to ask for another room in the hotel, but make sure it’s not next door or right above or below (and check that room thoroughly too).

What if, double gasp, you wake up the next morning with bedbugs?

This is the scarier scenario, because you don’t know where the bugs might be in your stuff, and you must make sure they don’t leave with you. Since the hotel is going to owe you one, insist that it launder your clothes immediately. And washing them isn’t enough: Mannes of the NPMA advises putting all fabric in a hot dryer for at least 30 minutes and steaming your luggage.

To be extra safe, before returning home place all your garments in a vacuum-sealed bag and dry them again.

If you’re wondering what bedbug bites look like, Sorkin keeps an extensive (and gross) collection of photos that include the bugs, their eggs, and their bite marks. The bites aren’t dangerous for most people — just unsightly and uncomfortable. Some people have harsh skin reactions that will require a doctor visit.

Bonus question: Could bedbugs hide on your pets?

Both Mannes and Sorkin said this is an unlikely scenario, but Sorkin added that it’s not impossible.

“There are exceptions where infestations have been allowed to proliferate due to many reasons,” he said. “Hotel staff haven’t been given proper education. I’ve seen infestations in homes where people and pet dogs and cats both had been fed upon over many months or longer.”

So just to be safe, give Checkers a good look before you check out.

Bonus question No. 2: How can I research if a hotel has bedbugs?

There are some websites where anonymous guests can report bedbug infestations at certain hotels, such as BedBugs.net and the Bedbug Registry. But there’s no way to be sure if the reports are accurate, and ultimately no hotel is 100 percent safe from bedbugs because of how easily they stow away with guests. Your best bet is to examine the room yourself.

WATCH: Hotel Hacks You Need to Know

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Top Spots to Escape the Cold for President’s Day and Beyond

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It’s no gamble that Las Vegas will be a warmer place to visit right now than New York. (Photo: Thinkstock)

Bone-chilling cold weather has been in the headlines often lately, from Winter Storm Jonas in the East to Arizona in the West. So where are people planning to ditch their parkas and escape to?

The travel site Expedia crunched its flight-booking data for the most popular warm-weather destinations on its site from January through March. And the biggest winter hotspot, it should be no surprise, is Las Vegas.

The second-most-booked warm-weather spot is Orlando and all its Disney attractions. That’s followed by Cancun, Los Angeles, and Miami.

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Cancun is the most popular warm-weather destination for President’s Day, according to Expedia. (Photo: Thinkstock)

Drilling down further, Expedia looked at which warm-weather spots are most in demand for President’s Day weekend. Perhaps because of the extra travel day south of the border, Cancun comes out on top, followed by Orlando, Vegas, L.A., and Miami.

Related: 16 National Parks to Visit in the Winter Instead of the Summer

Expedia also looked at cold-weather destinations getting the most winter flight bookings. Here are the top five spots:

1. New York
2. Denver
3. Washington, D.C.
4. Chicago
5. Seattle

Related: 16 Affordable Winter Trips Close to Home

If you’re interested in flying someplace with the best hotel deals, Expedia says the best warm-weather deals can be found in these cities during the winter: New Orleans, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Phoenix.

WATCH: Fly for Free: 7 Things You Should Always Charge for the Miles

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The Caribbean Isn’t As Safe As You Think

The greatest danger in visiting the Caribbean islands might not be the frequency of crimes against tourists but in the false sense of security the region can inspire. In bright sunshine, surrounded by a sparkling sea and sand, a traveler who wouldn’t think of walking down a deserted street in the U.S. or Europe may feel emboldened to wander down risky paths in what seems like paradise.

This may be exactly what led to the murder of a woman in Grenada last weekend after she and her husband walked out of public view and down a deserted stretch of beach. Just as travelers need to stay vigilant in destinations threatened by ISIS and in their own hometowns, they should not let their guard down in the Caribbean, security and travel experts advise.

Miami attorney Jim Walker, who documents crime in the Caribbean and has represented passengers in lawsuits against the cruise industry, calls the region “pretty but dangerous.”

“U.S. citizens generally think that it is safe to go to these countries for no reason other than cruise ships travel there,” he told Yahoo Travel. “But the murder rates throughout the Caribbean are much higher than anywhere in the U.S., with some countries having a per capita murder rate as high as the U.S.’s most dangerous cities.”

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The beach at La Sagesse resort in Grenada. (Photo: La Sagesse)

This doesn’t mean a person should avoid visiting the Caribbean. It’s a diverse region with a wide set of risk factors ranging from high to very low, so it pays to do your homework on where you’re going. The bottom line is as long as you take simple precautions, such as staying in areas frequented by tourists, your chances of becoming a victim as one of the 26 million annual visitors arriving here by sea or air are slim.

“I feel very safe in the Caribbean when traveling on a cruise,” cruise expert Stewart Chiron told Yahoo Travel. “I’m confident that with constant security reviews by individual lines that I’ll be as safe as possible.

“There may be ports [where] I’m uncomfortable to disembark and would remain aboard ship. People should always be vigilant regardless of where they travel, and determine the risks on their own as well.” 

Chiron gave Nassau in the Bahamas as an example of where he’d exercise caution, and indeed that’s an oft-cited danger zone in the Caribbean. Nassau’s homicide rate of 30 people per 100,000 is comparable to that of U.S. cities such as as Miami and Baltimore.

Related: Following Murder, Is Belize Safe for Tourists?

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Crime has been a major concern in the port city of Nassau in the Bahamas. (Photo: Thinkstock)

The U.S. State Department has the following to say about the Bahamas on its travel site: “The U.S. Embassy has received multiple reports of tourists robbed at gunpoint or knifepoint in tourist locations in the downtown areas of Nassau, [including]  … the cruise ship docks and the Cable Beach commerce areas; several of these incidents occurred during daylight hours.”

This month, the U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas issued a crime warning related to the sexual assault of an American tourist by a man on a watercraft. The Associated Press reports five sexual assaults on U.S. citizens by Nassau Jet Ski operators since July.

Related: TripAdvisor: Top All-Inclusive Resorts in the Caribbean

The murder in Grenada happened near the famous La Sagesse resort, where the couple had reportedly checked in the night before. The woman’s body was found in a mangrove near a deserted stretch of beach about a half-mile from the resort. One source who was at the resort told the Daily Mail the couple had apparently wandered just beyond where they would have been in sight of everyone else — past the mangrove and into a deserted area.

“I’ve been there on previous visits to La Sagesse, and I always felt a bit spooked on that deserted beach, as if someone was watching you from the undergrowth,” Sue Hardy told the Daily Mail.

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Grenada has been flagged as an island to “keep an eye on in terms of crime and security.” (Photo: Thinkstock)

The husband reportedly escaped and ran for help, but when help came, the woman was found dead. The local site SpiceIslander Talk Shop reported that the murder weapon was apparently a cutlass, and MTV News Grenada reported that a recently released ex-convict turned himself in for the crime.

La Sagesse is 12 miles from Grenada’s capital, St. George’s.

When asked about the attack, Chiron told Yahoo Travel he considers Grenada to be “a great place to visit on a cruise. I’m sure lines are monitoring the situation, but I’m confident no adjustments will be made at this time as it appears to be an isolated incident.” 

International risk management firm iJet recently told Yahoo Travel it has seen a slight increase in crime in the Caribbean due to an economic downturn, and that Grenada was an island to “keep an eye on in terms of crime and security.” The U.S. State department says crime in Grenada is “mostly opportunistic,” and said that “travelers should endeavor to stay in well-lit areas, and avoid walking alone whenever possible, and hotel rooms should remain locked at all times.”  

Here are some other parts of the Caribbean that have been flagged as places to be especially careful:

Trinidad & Tobago: The State Department’s Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) gives the island nation a crime rating of “critical,” adding in its report, “Crime in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) continues to be a serious concern, although T&T Police Service 2014 crime statistics show a decrease in overall serious criminal activity.”

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Jamaica has received a “critical” crime rating. (Photo: Thinkstock)

Jamaica: The OSAC likewise gives this nation a “critical” crime rating, though it does say most crimes involve “Jamaican-on-Jamaican” violence. “Some of the major tourist areas continue to be sites for pickpocketing and petty theft,” the OSAC report says. “In several cases, armed robberies turned violent when the victims resisted handing over valuables.”

Whether you visit these places, or places that iJet deems safer — such as the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands, or Aruba — the common-sense safety tips are the same:

  • Do not venture anywhere out of well-known tourist areas. If it looks at all sketchy, that’s probably for a reason.
  • Whenever possible, leave your valuables at home, including jewelry and electronic devices. Be cautious about drawing attention to yourself with flashy clothes or loud behavior.
  • Always lock your hotel door and use the hotel safe.
  • On the off chance you are robbed, do not resist. This is often when petty crimes turn fatal.
  • Look for travel warnings and advisories from sources such as the State Department and the OSAC.

 WATCH: Best Beaches in the Caribbean

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All the Coffee You Can Drink at This Remote Colombian B&B

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The main house and the pool. (Photo: Hacienda Venecia)

With its bamboo architecture, hammocks facing the countryside, and peacocks roaming the lawn, Hacienda Venecia has the look and feel of a place stuck in time. But it’s also part of a major trend in Colombia: a coffee farm in the country’s famous coffee-growing region for 100 years, only in the last seven years has it opened itself as a B&B to visitors.

“I was receiving lots of coffee traders from all over the world and they fell in love with the place,” said Juan Pablo Echeverri, whose family has owned the farm for 50 years and who has been running it for the past 12. “I started seeing in that time as well, because of the security that Colombia regained, backpackers coming by.

“I knew all the travelers would start to come sooner or later. If you manage to convince backpackers, you can convince anyone. Because backpackers are looking for an authentic experience.”

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There’s lots of coffee and hammocks here.  (Photo: Greg Keraghosian)

Having recently stayed at Hacienda Venecia, located in Manizales about 30 minutes from the city center, I can say the experience is authentic indeed. From the postcard-perfect mountain setting to the education on coffee production to the rustic-chic Main House, this place demands a visit if you’re touring the coffee region.

Best of all, guests can have all the farm-grown coffee they can drink.

Related: Big Dreams Brewing: Inspiring Coffee Farmers in Colombia

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Peering into one of the rooms in the main house.  (Photo: Greg Keraghosian)

The setup: Hacienda Venecia is broken up into three kinds of accommodations with breakfast included for all: the hostel, guest house, and main house – or as Echeverri calls the choices, “Backpack, Samsonite, and Louis Vuitton.”  

The hostel ($9 per night) has three shared dorms that used to house the farm’s coffee pickers. The guest house (around $30 with breakfast) has seven rooms, and the elegant main house ($100 to $130) has another six rooms, three of which have private bathrooms.

Related: Unbelievable Drone Footage of Colombia’s Cocora Valley

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The courtyard at the hostel. (Photo: Greg Keraghosian)

The vibe: Classic rural Colombia, and with the remote location here, you couldn’t ask for a more tranquil setting. The country’s coffee region has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2011, meaning you can expect to see the traditional Bahareque elements here preserved, including bamboo and clay walls.

The hostel has a picturesque patio, kitchen, and store for supplies. The guest house is by far the most plain-looking accommodation, with a pool in front. The main house is a stunner, with a large lawn, pool, pond, peacocks, iguanas in the trees, balconies on all sides with hammocks, and red doors and red shutter windows for the rooms. After my breakfast I saw that the resident white cat was cat-napping and was camouflaged in a white pillow. It’s the kind of sight that’s guaranteed to make your friends jealous when you Instagram it.

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Say hi to some of the peacocks on site. (Photo: Greg Keraghosian)

The farm
: The entire property comprises over 200 acres in the Cordillera de los Andes, and the farm produces 50 million cups of single origin coffee per year – a small amount of Colombia’s production. Only in the last 10 years has Hacienda Venecia been exporting its coffee, and the farm is UTZ certified for sustainability practices. 

The coffee experience: You can learn about Colombian coffee from seed to drink here, and the experiences are open to guests and non-guests.

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Juan Pablo Echeverri, who runs the B&B and the family coffee farm. (Photo: Greg Keraghosian)

The coffee production area is just a short walk away from the main house. You can get up close to see where the Arabica beans are picked, washed, dried, and stored in giant sacks.

I attended a cupping workshop presided by Echeverri and one of his assistants, where I learned about Colombia’s coffee trade (for instance, virtually all the best coffee is exported), tried sorting the best beans, got a test on how well I could recognize the beans’ smell, and even learned the proper way to sip coffee.

Your third option is to take a barista class, where you can learn about the different ways to brew your own cup, from French press to Chemex, then learn how to make a floral cappuccino design. The instructor must have been good, because even my design wasn’t a complete mess. 

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Learn to create designs like these at the in-house barista classes.  (Photo: Greg Keraghosian)

The activities: If lazing on a hammock or by the pool isn’t your thing, you can also go hiking in the surrounding area, look for the 120 species of birds here, or go horseback riding. Hostel guests have access to the pool and Wi-Fi at the guest house.

The food: All of my meals were traditionally Colombian, and they did not disappoint. My favorite was probably the ajiaco, a chicken-and-potato soup.  

What I loved: The word “authentic” gets thrown around a lot in the travel world, but this truly fits the definition. The farm doesn’t feel touristy at all, and the relaxing surroundings here could calm down even the biggest caffeine high. The coffee here is mighty good too, and you can buy some bags to take home with you.

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Take a cat nap next to the resident cat at Hacienda Venecia. (Photo: Greg Keraghosian)

What you might not love: When I stopped by the guest house, the common indoor area was uncomfortably hot despite a fan blowing. Your best bet will be to either go extra-budget and book a hostel room, or splurge for the main house. If you’re truly looking for a five-star hotel experience, the main house’s older furnishings and shared bathrooms won’t remind you of the Ritz-Carlton.  

Also, the B&B’s delightful remoteness creates one problem: getting there. You could take a public bus from Manizales, though we have recently covered the dangers of public buses in Colombia. Your more expensive, but safer, bet is to take a taxi or drive there yourself. 

The bottom line: If you love coffee, you’ll want to reserve a hammock here.

WATCH: Unbelievable Drone Footage of Colombia’s Cocora Valley

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Airports You’ll Enjoy Being Stranded at During Winter Storm Jonas

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If you’re stuck in the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport, don’t panic: Just take the train 12 minutes to the Mall of America. (Photo: Jerry Huddleston/Flickr)

The Weather Channel told you there would be days like this. A massive storm is hitting the East Coast this weekend, and even if you’re far away and looking to fly somewhere, you’re likely to be affected. Hundreds of flights have been cancelled for Friday, and if you’re caught waiting for hours at an airport, you’d better hope to have some great reading material or have a coveted seat near a charging outlet.

On the other hand, some airports are better to be stuck in than others. To that end, we’ve rounded up some that will keep you entertained if you have to wait through Winter Storm Jonas, thanks to great food and entertainment, and comfortable surroundings. You (almost) won’t want to leave.

Minneapolis-St. Paul International

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This spa at Mall of America is just a 12-minute train ride away from the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport. (Courtesy: Solimar Spa)

Lots of airports have shopping, but absolutely no one can compete with the Mall of America. If you’re snowed in, you need only take the light rail 12 minutes south and gorge yourself upon enough shopping and entertainment to occupy yourself through several storms. If you’ve been freezing all day, just warm yourself up at the Mall’s Solimar Spa.

At the airport itself, you could also pass the time by purchasing a day pass at the Delta and United lounges.

New York-JFK

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A burger (or two) from Shake Shack will make any layover more bearable.   (Photo: Shake Shack JFK/Facebook)

The newly renovated Delta Terminal 4 makes for some plush layover surroundings, and you could spend a couple of days here just sampling the very legit eating options in JFK’s different terminals. Of course you’re going to head to one of two Shake Shacks in Terminal 4, but don’t forget to try the ribs at Blue Smoke on the Road, right across from one of them.

Or why not gorge on paella and ceviche in Terminal 5 at Piquillo, thought to be the first Spanish tapas restaurant in an airport?

Newark Liberty International

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Terminal C at Newark’s airport is worth hanging out in anytime. (Photo: redjar/Flickr)

No, we’re not kidding. This airport has been rightly maligned for years, but the new, ultra-modern Terminal C will change your mind about EWR. Have a Korean fried chicken sandwich and a craft beer at Caps Beer Garden, or go fancy with escargot and steak at Alain Ducasse’s Saison.

San Francisco International

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Pull up a seat and relax in SFO’s Terminal 2, or go for yoga. (Photo: Sollina Images/Blend Images/Corbis)

Terminal 2, which includes Virgin America, rightly gets most of the attention at San Francisco’s airport for its ample dining options, comfortable furnishings, and its yoga room — the latter is perfect for destressing on a layover.

If you’re in Terminal 1, you can make your own picnic at PIQ with gourmet bread, cheese, and snacks. At Terminal 3, you can pass the time at the swanky Centurion Lounge if you own an American Express Platinum or Centurion card. Other American Express card-holders can pay $50 for a day pass.

Austin-Bergstrom International

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Austin’s musical spirit extends to its airport, from the art to the live music. (Photo: Peter Tsai Photography/Alamy Stock Photo)

Austin is arguably Music City (sorry, Nashville), and you don’t need to be in the city to enjoy some sweet tunes — Saxon Pub in the East Concourse has live music and pub grub. Meanwhile, Salt Lick Barbecue in the West Terminal will serve you a Texas-sized plate of smoked meats.

Related: Need for Speed: Airports With the Fastest Wi-Fi

Miami International

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Did someone say Cuban food? You’ll be glad your flight was delayed after eating at La Carreta. (Photo: La Carreta/Facebook)

Little Havana may technically be a neighborhood in Miami, but you can pretend you went there just by exploring this Cuban-inspired airport. La Carreta in Terminal D is a favorite for fast-casual eating — try its Cuban sandwiches, Cuban flank steak, or friend plantains.

Alternatively, you can enjoy a mojito at the modern-themed Ku-Va in Terminal D, or have a wine-and-cheese day at Beaudevin, also in Terminal D.

Detroit Metropolitan

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Take a time-killing ride on the ExpressTram at Detroit’s airport. (Photo: Ilene MacDonald/Alamy Stock Photo)

Just getting around this airport is fun, thanks to the ExpressTram monorail, which connects the ends of McNamara Terminal, Concourse A – the world’s second-longest airport concourse at almost a mile long. In that same terminal, you can find some Zen by admiring the dancing fountain, which is meant to mimic a flight map as it shoots streams of water.

Also, if you need to stay overnight, it’s a breeze at Detroit’s airport: Just book a room at the Westin inside the McNamara Terminal.

 WATCH: 5 Airport Hacks You’ve Never Heard Of (That Work!)

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San Francisco for the Super Bowl: Your Guide to Everything

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This is what San Francisco’s Market Street will look like during the upcoming Super Bowl festivities. (Image courtesy Super Bowl 50 Host Committee)

The winner of the Super Bowl usually says they’re going to Disney World. But even the Magic Kingdom would have a hard time competing with the pomp and circumstance in the Bay Area during the week leading up to this year’s big game.

About 70,000 people will attend Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Feb. 7, but for the many thousands more who just want to be in town for it, the game itself is almost besides the point. Whether you want to play virtual football with a giant avatar of yourself, see Alicia Keys or Metallica in concert, or watch WWE wrestling in person, there’s an event for you.

Whether you’re a die-hard NFL fan or just in it for the party, here’s a guide for getting to and enjoying the Super Bowl festivities like a winner.

Airfare and lodgings

If you thought the airline industry gouged college football fans before this year’s national championship game, wait till you see the fare increases as soon as this weekend’s AFC and NFC championship games are done and just two weeks remain for the winners’ fans to make their travel plans to the Bay Area.

Hipmunk conservatively estimates a 250 percent price increase in tickets for flights to the three main Bay Area airports (San Francisco, San Jose, and Oakland). Factoring in the price for the eight cities whose teams remained in the playoffs before last Sunday’s games, Hipmunk calculated an average airfare of $383 before Jan. 24, and $957 afterward. Your best bet for a good deal will be to fly into Oakland, though this will also make for a longer commute to the game and to most other festivities.

What’s one possible way around this if your team is in the final four? Buy your ticket before Sunday, and seek a refund, convert it to a flight for a later date, or just fly out even if your team loses. As you’ll see further down in this article, there will be plenty of distractions in San Francisco to take the sting out of the defeat.

Related: The Perfect San Francisco Thursday Night for Under $30

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Prepare to have your hotel budget sacked during Super Bowl weekend.  (Infographic: Hipmunk)

It should also be no surprise that local hotels are jacking up their rates as the Super Bowl approaches. As Hipmunk’s data indicates, the closer you get to the site of the game, the more you’ll pay. While San Francisco hotel rates jump 96 percent — to $403 a night for Super Bowl weekend — rates in Santa Clara and San Jose jump a whopping 317 percent, to $637 per night.

But really, you’re only going to stay in the South Bay if you’re going to the game, considering that most of the festivities are in San Francisco. So your best bet is to look for an alternative lodging there with Airbnb, or go hunting for deals using the likes of the last-minute booking app Hotel Tonight or the deals site goSeek.

Looking on goSeek, we did find a $130 nightly rate at the two-star Layne Hotel near Union Square in San Francisco. It doesn’t have the best reviews, but if it’s still available, you won’t beat the price.

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The Hotel Zephyr at Fisherman’s Wharf is offering a “Hangover Helper” Super Bowl Package. (Photo courtesy Hotel Zephyr)

While it’s not a cheap rate, a decent value can be had at the newly opened Hotel Zephyr at Fisherman’s Wharf. The hotel’s “Hangover Helper” package goes for $669 per night for three nights, and includes two Uber rides costing up to $50 each, a complimentary upgrade, and free Wi-Fi, plus two “Never Too Hungover” vitamin drinks meant to stave off hangovers, and additional Vitamin Water.

When you add up airfare, hotel, game tickets, and food, Hipmunk estimates a Super Bowl visit will cost you between $6,189 and $7,207 per person. For that price, the winning team might as well size you for a championship ring.

Related: 10 Foods You Must Have in San Francisco for the Super Bowl

Official NFL festivities

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Play video games with yourself as the quarterback at the Fan Energy Zone.  (Image courtesy Super Bowl 50 Host Committee)

The Super Bowl may be in Santa Clara, but San Francisco will be the hub for most of the action during the lead-up to the game. The NFL has never been about subtlety, so it’s no surprise there’s a dizzying array of activities meant to appeal to fans of all ages with all interests.

Super Bowl City is exactly that — the area around the Embarcadero and Justin Herman Plaza will be a temporary NFL-sponsored enclave, with everything free to the public. Even Tom Brady might have a hard time devising a game plan for seeing it all, but here’s a rundown of what you can see:

  • The City Stage: Starting Jan. 30 with a show by Chris Isaak, you can watch more than 35 live musical performances here. The headliner will be the free concert by Alicia Keys on Super Bowl Eve, Feb. 6.
  • The Fan Energy Zone: This may sound like a place to sell Red Bull, but it’s actually a high-tech interactive gaming area. The 40-foot-tall Fan Dome will include a video game where you play as a giant avatar of yourself, catching or throwing passes and dodging defenders. Or you can strap on a virtual-reality headset and play the QB challenge, where you’re the quarterback passing to your heart’s delight without the threat of being sacked in real life.
  • CBS Sports broadcasts: Be at the CBS set to watch interviews of experts and former players, and see how long you can last before you make a funny face at the camera. Naturally, while here you can also zipline on a replica Golden Gate Bridge.
  • Chevron STEM Zone: Don’t really care about the game but want to get nerdy over football technology? This exhibit will cover everything from advances in football equipment to broadcasting technology, and you can see firsthand the difference between throwing a vintage football and a modern one.
  • The Levi’s Lot: Of course you have to shop for NFL-related gear while you’re out here. Levi’s, whose headquarters are next door, will be selling limited-edition NFL-themed jackets and shirts.

If NFL City’s pomp and circumstance aren’t enough to entertain you, just walk on down to the NFL Experience at the Moscone Center. Here you can get autographs from current and former NFL players, play pass-and-kick games, and get a picture with the Vince Lombardi trophy. 

Related: Game on: The Best College Football Towns in America

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The NFL Experience at Moscone Center will include skill games. (Courtesy Super Bowl 50 Host Committee)

If the thought of football makes you hungry, you can attend the Taste of the NFL event happening at San Francisco’s Cow Palace. The hefty ticket price — $700  — gets you gourmet food from one chef for all 32 NFL cities, plus photo ops and autographs from a current or former player from each city. Third Eye Blind will be performing, and proceeds from the event will help food banks around the country.

Game tickets

And now for the most lucrative expense: The Super Bowl sold out a long time ago, which means you’re probably only looking to buy a ticket if you have money to burn or you really like one of the teams.

Of course, we won’t know who the teams are until after Sunday’s conference championships, but considering this year’s game is in one of the world’s richest metropolitan areas, expect to break the bank when cruising the secondary market. Ticket aggregator TiqIQ has gone on the record to say it estimates the average ticket price will be $4,500.

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You might need to take out a second mortgage to get into Levi’s Stadium for the Super Bowl. (AP Photo/Noah Berger, File)

There’s a lot you can do with that money other than craning your neck to see over the person with the giant sign in front of you at the game. So budget accordingly.

Also, if you just want to party outside Levi’s Stadium without a ticket, keep these facts in mind: You can’t board a VTA train directly to the game because only ticket holders are allowed on. You can take Caltrain, but you’ll need an extra ride to get to the stadium. You can also take the Amtrak Capitol Corridor train from Sacramento through the East Bay right to the stadium.

Driving to the game will be time-consuming (one to two hours, depending on where you’re coming from), and you’ll have an $80 parking fee to deal with too.

Finally, there are a limited number of seats available on the Super Bowl Fan Express shuttle. The fare is $55 round trip.

Other stuff going on

There’s a whole lot more to check out in the Bay Area whether or not you’re a sports fan. San Jose will officially kick off Super Bowl week Feb. 1 with the Super Bowl 50 Opening Night, which will run for three hours at SAP Center and feature interviews with players and coaches in the big game. Tickets cost $30.

If you can’t have football without beer, you’re in luck: Jan. 22 to Jan. 31 marks SF Beer Week, with more than 750 events throughout the Bay Area.

Also in San Jose, the First Friday Art Walk along South First Street will have a Super Bowl theme Feb. 5, and it’s free to all. And you can witness some body-slamming a day early by attending the WWE Road to Wrestlemania event Feb. 6, starring Brock Lesnar.

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The Pro Football Hall of Fame has an exhibit in a Santa Clara museum before the Super Bowl. (Photo: Triton Museum of Art/Facebook)

In Santa Cara on Jan. 31, you can attend a free outdoor concert by the classic rock band Heart at Mission College. And football buffs can head to the Triton Museum of Art in Santa Clara for an expansive Pro Football Hall of Fame exhibit that includes more than 200 artifacts, plus rare photos and documents.

Oakland will get in the act on Feb. 5 with the Super Bowl Gospel Celebration at the Paramount Theatre.

And finally, like the Super Bowl, this concert is sold out, but metalheads who don’t want to splurge on football can search, seek, and destroy their wallets by scouring the secondary market for tickets to the Metallica concert at San Francisco’s AT&T Park.

WATCH: Drinking with the Giants’ World Series Trophy on a Plane Was My Dream Trip

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